. >> now, the president expressing on michelle there. we are told as well that his staff and speaker boehner's staff have now sort of resumed an open line of communication to try to work this out. so that might be some sign of hope. on the other hand, president and the speaker have not gotten on the phone again yet. so, until they do that. we know we are not that close to a deal, shep. >> sherd: republic leaders are saying that the president is focusing too much on one side of the fiscal cliff balance. >> that's right. they say he is focused as you heard in that sound bite about taxes and that part of it. they are not hearing a lot about spending cuts which republicans obviously think is the big driver of the debt issue. when the president is now demanding that raising the nation's debt ceiling combined in this deal. what republicans like mitch mcconnell think is going on the president just wants to spend more money. listen. >> what the president is really interested in as we learned just yesterday, is getting as much taxpayer money as h